Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister
Chapter 136 - 132: Mr. Aoyama and the Rare Dog, A Comedy of Errors

Chapter 136: Chapter 132: Mr. Aoyama and the Rare Dog, A Comedy of Errors

Aoyama Xiu Xin walked into Yang Ji Restaurant, where the main hall was bustling and every seat was taken; business clearly was booming.

"Mr. Aoyama, you’ve arrived. Vice President Zhao is waiting for you upstairs in a private room. Please follow me," Xiao Yang hurried forward to greet him upon seeing him and then led him upstairs.

"Vice President?" as he followed Xiao Yang upstairs, Aoyama Xiu Xin asked, "The Chairman isn’t coming?"

"No," Xiao Yang shook his head.

During their conversation, they had reached the second floor, and at the door of one of the private rooms stood a young, sturdy man on each side.

"Mr. Aoyama, please," the two robust men opened the door after bowing to Aoyama Xiu Xin, following the local custom.

"Mr. Aoyama, if you need anything, just call for me; I won’t disturb you any further," Xiao Yang said before hastily turning to descend the stairs.

"Mr. Aoyama, your presence graces us; my failure to meet you sooner is truly a discourtesy, my apologies."

As soon as Aoyama Xiu Xin entered, Zhao Qinghong came up with a smile on his face, his posture not just humble but downright fawning.

Looking at this man, the image that sprang to Aoyama Xiu Xin’s mind was of a traitorous collaborator from anti-Japanese dramas, the type who would say "Greetings, your excellence" to the Japanese.

"There’s no need to be so formal, Mr. Zhao. Please, take a seat," Aoyama Xiu Xin said indifferently, taking the seat of honor for himself.

He saw right through what this man was made of, and therefore, the more he needed to display arrogance and dominance.

No wonder the Fulong Gang could only exploit their own people; with leadership made up of this sort, it wasn’t surprising at all.

"Hi!" Zhao Qinghong answered and then personally poured tea for Aoyama Xiu Xin. Smiling ingratiatingly, he said, "Mr. Aoyama, this is our famous Chinese Da Hong Pao tea. Please try it, and if you like it, I’ll send some to your home another day."

Thud, thud, thud! Aoyama Xiu Xin didn’t touch the tea but tapped his fingers on the table, saying unpleasantly, "Mr. Zhao, I’m not here to drink tea."

"Hi! Hi! Hi!" Zhao Qinghong nodded and bowed repeatedly, then sat down, angrily criticizing the underlings from that morning, "It’s the fault of my men for annoying you, Mr. Aoyama. We too bear the responsibility for not disciplining them properly. In any case, we sincerely apologize for the trouble we’ve caused you and the Fulong Chamber of Commerce is willing to offer one billion yen as compensation."

For the sake of Mr. Aoyama and securing this substantial compensation, he had indeed been very persuasive.

Aoyama Xiu Xin felt as if he were dreaming.

Even though he had beaten and crippled several of the Fulong Gang’s men, he hadn’t expected to receive compensation.

"Yoshi! You, definitely an upstanding citizen, greatly upstanding."

Mr. Aoyama issued an upstanding citizen certification.

"Hi!" Zhao Qinghong’s face showed relief, and he ingratiatingly said, "They say adversity leads to companionship; our Fulong Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Aoyama are also destined to be connected. If there’s anything you need down the line, you have only to ask!"

He felt he had gotten the accent right this time; this is how the Japanese spoke Chinese. Just now, Aoyama Xiu Xin’s Mandarin was so fluent that it left him slightly dazed.

"Mr. Zhao, are you saying you want to work for me?" Aoyama Xiu Xin showed a keen interest. He had been planning to take control of the Fulong Gang anyway, so this could be a mutual rush towards each other.

"Not to hide anything, I think that if the Fulong Chamber of Commerce wants to deeply entrench itself in Japan, it can’t do so without the support and protection of native forces!" Zhao Qinghong first threw out his idea, then spoke on, "I’ve heard much of Mr. Aoyama’s reputation, and being at your beck and call would be our Chamber’s good fortune!"

He’d done his research well beforehand. The Yamakawa family was supported by Aoyama Xiu Xin, so with the power of the Fulong Chamber of Commerce and police protection, couldn’t they rapidly expand?

Zhao Qinghong was not content just defending his current turf and profiting off his own people; of course, he intended to exploit his own people, but he also wanted to earn from the Japanese.

"Oh? Is that what everyone at your Chamber thinks?" Aoyama Xiu Xin picked up the cup of Da Hong Pao tea and took a sip.

It was like a cow chewing peonies, the flavor lost to him.

"This... not everyone shares the same foresight as Zhao," Zhao Qinghong now revealed his ambitions, "Chairman Chen has a narrow vision, fixating only on what we already possess. My constructive suggestions are ignored by him, and such behavior not only hinders the Chamber’s growth but also its ability to serve you. I can’t stand to watch any longer."

"So, if I could take over as Chairman, then the entire Fulong Chamber of Commerce would be willing to go through fire and water for Mr. Aoyama... cough, I mean, Mr. Aoyama, without question!"

Aoyama Xiu Xin understood; this fellow wanted to use his allegiance to the Japanese to further develop the Fulong Gang.

But Chairman Chen Taizhi disagreed.

So now, he wanted to eliminate Chen Taizhi and seize the Chairman position for himself with the aid of Aoyama Xiu Xin. Once in power, he could legitimately lead the whole Fulong Gang to ally with him.

And under his protection, to expand their territory aggressively.

This was a true traitorous collaborator’s behavior.

However, he was now the Tai-kun, and from his own interests, he damn sure needed someone like this.

After all, if he wanted to control the Fulong Gang, cultivating Zhao Qinghong was definitely more cost-effective than supporting Chen Taizhi.

For this kind of person, when the night pot felt too dirty, it was nothing to him to discard it at a later time.

"Yoshi, Mr. Zhao, you, greatly intelligent work."

Aoyama Xiu Xin praised his thinking, "Just take care of things well for me, and I will certainly not treat you unfairly."

"Hi! Willing to serve the Imperial Army," Zhao Qinghong said joyously, standing up to loudly raise a glass.

Aoyama Xiu Xin nearly spat out his tea, choked by it he coughed repeatedly, "Cough...cough, cough..."

Today it was a false Japanese collaborator meeting a true traitor.

"Tai... Mr. Aoyama, are you alright?" Zhao Qinghong quickly tended to him with concern.

Aoyama Xiu Xin waved his hand off, and after catching his breath, he took another sip of tea to soothe his throat and said, "Since Mr. Zhao has ambitions about taking Chairman Chen’s place, you must already have a plan in mind, how might I assist?"

"Hi! Mr. Aoyama’s insight is divine," Zhao Qinghong slapped a compliment, his face showing a sly smile as he spoke, "I have some evidence of Chen Taizhi’s repeated illegal activities in Japan. You just need to have your colleague arrest him."

"Yoshi," Aoyama Xiu Xin nodded, but then he asked seriously, "Are you sure that by just arresting Chen Taizhi, you’ll be able to control the Fulong Gang?"

"Mr. Aoyama, rest assured, once Chen Taizhi is captured, dealing with the rest, the small fries, will be a snap for me," Zhao Qinghong confidently assured.

Aoyama Xiu Xin stared at him, paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Isn’t Mr. Zhao afraid of being called a traitor?"

"Mr. Aoyama is wise, I only trust that ’a man of insight knows how to adapt to changes,’" Zhao Qinghong said with a cajoling smile.

Aoyama Xiu Xin casually pushed the teacup across to him.

Zhao Qinghong quickly stood up to pour him tea.

"Bang!" Just then, the door was pushed open.

Zhao Qinghong was so frightened that his hand trembled, and the scalding tea spilled onto the table and splashed onto Aoyama Xiu Xin’s hand.

"Idiot!" Aoyama Xiu Xin, overcome with pain and anger, stood up and delivered two slaps across the face.

"Slap! Slap!"

"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Zhao Qinghong immediately bowed repeatedly to apologize, "Mr. Aoyama, please calm down, calm down."

"Hmph!" Aoyama Xiu Xin sat down with a stern face.

Zhao Qinghong pulled out a tissue to wipe the water stains from his hand, then turned to his visibly shaken subordinate who had entered in a hurry and asked, "What’s the rush?"

"Boss, our brothers downstairs got into a bit of conflict with people from Otsuki, and now they’re shaking people down."

Zhao Qinghong turned his head to look at Aoyama Xiu Xin.

"People from Otsuki?" Aoyama Xiu Xin raised an eyebrow.

Zhao Qinghong instantly understood, "Daokuan Association."

Aoyama Xiu Xin picked up the phone and called Inakawa Hong, "President Inakawa, sorry to bother you. Vice President Zhao from the Fulong Gang is a friend of mine. There’s been a conflict between people from Otsuki and the Fulong Gang. I hope everyone can sit down and resolve this peaceably. What do you think? After all, the Senate election is coming up, and making a big deal out of this isn’t good for anyone."

"Police Chief Aoyama has spoken, of course I will give you this face. I’ll send out an order to Otsuki shortly," Inakawa Hong readily agreed on the spot.

Aoyama Xiu Xin, "Thank you, President Inakawa. I won’t bother you any longer, and I’ll take you out for a drink another day."

Inakawa Hong made no objection, hanging up directly.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Aoyama. Just one phone call averted a bloody conflict, not to mention how many lives you saved. Mr. Aoyama, you’re truly compassionate and merciful!" Zhao Qinghong said with an exaggerated expression of flattery.

"Send the goods to me as soon as possible," Aoyama Xiu Xin dropped a line, then got up and walked out.

"Yes!" Zhao Qinghong responded, bowing toward his retreating figure and called out, "Mr. Aoyama, take care!"

He didn’t raise his head until he could no longer hear the footsteps.

"Boss, that little Japanese guy was too bullying," the subordinate who had burst in complained indignantly.

The two slaps Aoyama Xiu Xin had delivered to Zhao Qinghong were real and hard, even drawing blood from the corner of his mouth.

"Didn’t you see how he just made a phone call and commanded the President of the Daokuan Association?" Zhao Qinghong touched his swollen face and sucked in a breath, "Besides, I’m doing this for the gang, for the glory and wealth of our brothers. What is a little humiliation compared to that?"

............

Nakamura Shinichi was on his way to the Hirakawa District.

He had just received a call from the secretary of the Kimura family, asking to meet at an abandoned Jing Shang Electronics Co., Ltd. factory in that area at eleven o’clock to pick up money.

Adhering to the thought that one should not keep important people waiting, he went ahead early.

At ten-thirty he arrived at the factory and from afar, he saw a car parked inside with someone standing beside it.

Nakamura Shinichi didn’t expect them to arrive even earlier.

He immediately got out of his car and approached, all the while apologizing, "I’m incredibly sorry, I didn’t anticipate you would be so early. I apologize for making you wait."

As he got closer, he realized the man was tall with a full beard and felt it odd; he hadn’t expected the secretary of the Kimura family to look so rugged.

"Are you here for the money?" The Bearded Man eyed Nakamura Shinichi warily, then after a moment’s silence, asked.

"Yes!" Nakamura Shinichi replied with a smile.

"Just a moment." The Bearded Man turned and opened the trunk of the car, then walked over carrying two cash boxes and dropped them in front of Nakamura Shinichi, "Open them and check it."

"No need to check. I trust you. What’s there to check?" Nakamura Shinichi quickly replied.

Could the Kimura family give him counterfeit money?

The look in the Bearded Man’s eyes softened a lot at Nakamura Shinichi’s response. After all, in their business of living dangerously, trust was rare, and the show of trust had moved him.

"Then, please, leave first," he said.

"Sure, you’re quite cautious," Nakamura Shinichi said, giving him a thumbs-up, then loaded the two cash boxes into his car, waved, and drove off.

The Bearded Man watched Nakamura Shinichi’s car disappear into the darkness, then picked up a cell phone and dialed a number, "Big brother, the money has been handed over."

"Okay." On the other end, in the wilderness that bordered Kanagawa Prefecture and Tokyo, two groups were trading. The Bald Man, receiving the Bearded Man’s notification, looked at the silver-haired fat man across from him and said, "Your people have taken the money; it’s time for you to hand over the goods."

Separate transactions for money and goods.

It was more effective in evading police action.

"I’ll ask." The silver-haired fat man took the phone from his subordinate, called the one who went to collect the money, "Why didn’t you call me when you got the money! Idiot!"

"Eh? Big brother, I haven’t even arrived yet."